Passover Seder Invitation and Matzah Brittle

This week my friend and I were invited to a Passover Seder. This week is extraordinary because Passover and Easter fall in the same week. We celebrated the story of Exodus reading from the haggadah in English. About twenty people had been invited.

These are the symbols of the Seder Feast. There is  clockwise: fruit (apples with walnuts and cinnamon), parsley, horseradish (the root, and ground), egg, and lamb.

We ate Matzah, and drank wine.

We had a Christian version of the Jewish Passover Seder. Our meal consisted of turkey, green beans, salad, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted white potatoes, and carrots.

Everyone looked like they had a wonderful time. It was a time of learning and of faith. A time to rejoice in a people and a time to rejoice in each other. A time to rejoice in food.

For dessert there were almond macrons, dates, noodle kugel and matzah brittle which I brought.

The brittle was a hit and the plate was cleaned!

Here it is fresh out of the oven.
I found the original recipe at Dying for Chocolate.
And it all started with a matzah.

English: "Holyland" brand matzah, machine-made in Jerusalem and purchased at Trader Joes in the United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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My Pork Creation

Pork roast with a butternut squash crust #pork #butternut #squash #roast via caseygoduti

Have you ever had a moment of inspiration that turned itself into something totally amazing. That was what it was like for me, in the creation of the dish above. I literally created this dish at the grocery store, while thinking of the leftovers I wanted to use in the refrigerator.

This meal was made in two parts.

The first part was the butternut squash mixture, where I roasted the butternut squash, mashed it, and added ginger, Chinese 5-spice, Duck Sauce, Soy Sauce, celery and garlic.

"Let's see, I have half a butternut squash mash mixture I used for stuffing potstickers Asian style. What do I want to do with it?"

The only meat that came to mind to me was a pork loin.

Putting the pork loin in the pan, I poured sesame oil over the top and placed the butternut squash mixture on like a crust. I then stuck a thermometer into the pork and put it into a 350f  oven. I put 1/2 cup white wine into the button of the pan and cooked the pork until it reached 170F.

When it was done it was moist and juicy and a real treat.

It is not that often that I come up with such a creative meal. I was really proud of myself.

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Review: Life Could Be a Dream at the Ivoryton Playhouse

Rob Rodems* as Wally, Sheila Coyle* as Lois  and Matt Densky* as Eugene

Life Could Be a Dream takes place in Springfield and croons its way into audiences' hearts from Denny's basement where he is planning for his future. Wally and Eugene, his friends, reminiscence about school. It is not until they meet Lois and Skip that everything starts to come together.

Life Could Be a Dream is written and created by Roger Bean Musical arrangements by Roger Bean and Jon Newton. Additional musical arrangements by Steve Parsons.

Doo-wop and  sh-boom are just a few of the musical sounds you'll hear in this fun, slightly romantic, musical. Denny, played by Aaron Catano* is the driving force, Rob Rodems* is Wally the church goer, and Matt Densky* is Eugene, who is slightly emotional. In enters Sheila Coyle* as Lois, who assists with the group, and Evan D. Siegel* as Skip, who is a auto mechanic.

The cast was terrific and the singing was out of this world, especially when they performed the angel song music mix which included such songs as "Earth Angel". That was my favorite! I loved the way the songs were put together.

The choreography was smooth, and the acting and the singing was terrific. The show is worth a standing ovation. If you haven't bought tickets to see the show at the Ivoryton Playhouse you should. This is a show for the family, just as the Jacqueline Hubbard says.

This show is directed by Jacqueline Hubbard. The Choreographer is by Schuyler Beeman and the musical direction was done by Jason Wetzel.

This show will leave you bopping in the streets.

Photos courtesy of Anne Hudson and the Ivoryton Playhouse
* member of Actors Equity

Quarter Pounder Hamburger Meat Loaf

My room mate went off to Italy and left a lone hamburger in the refrigerator. I didn't feel like eating a burger so I decided to dress it up. This definitely does not look like a burger but I can tell you, for me, it would have been one hell of a big burger for me.

Quarter Pounder Hamburger Meatloaf
Serves 1
1/4 pound hamburger
2 portobella mushrooms, chopped fine
1 celery stick (from the center), chopped fine
1 garlic clove, minced
1 egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 cup plain breadcrumbs
1 slice pepperjack cheese
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 350F. Beat egg, and add the meat and other ingredients. Shape into a meatloaf. Place on a baking pan and put in the oven. When meatloaf becomes a dark brown but the juices are still flowing red, place (about 15 to 20 minutes) the slice of cheese on top and place back in the oven. Cook for another 10 minutes or when you cheese is nice and crisp, and pull the meatloaf out of the oven.

This meal was not your plain old every day hamburger.

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Chicken Fricassee

Chicken Fricassee is a meal that has survived many a century, considering it dates back to at least the fifteenth century according to wikipedia. Despite this fact, for me, this was my first time having this particular dish. I found it while going through my cookbooks completely by accident.

This is the cookbook I found the recipe in, 'Scottish Bakehouse Cook Book' by Isabella  M. White. I cooked the Chicken Fricassee in my dutch oven.

Chicken Fricassee
Serves 4 to 6
1 frying chicken, cut up
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup sliced mushrooms (I used portobello)
1/2 cup orange juice (I used orange mango because that is hat I had in the house)
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup butter (I use unsalted)
2 cups water
2 eggs
salt and pepper
Boiled rice
Paprika

Season frying chicken and slightly fry in butter. Add the cut up vegetables and water. Simmer until the chicken is tender about 1 hour and 15 minutes to a half hour (or however long is necessary).

Remove the chicken from the pot and place on a platter. Check the seasoning and season more if necessary.

Beat the eggs in a cup ahead of time  if you wish and add the orange juice. I then added the flour and mixed well. Add this to the stock mixture in the pot. Mix until thickened and of a gravy consistency.

To serve.
Place some chicken on one side of the plate. Place rice on the other side of the plate. Ladle gravy over chicken and rice, and sprinkle with paprika.

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Sh-boom, Sh-boom - Life Could Be A Dream

Press Release

February 15, 2013

Sh-boom, Sh-boom - Life Could Be A Dream

The award winning ‘60s doo-wop musical

At The Ivoryton Playhouse

 Ivoryton: It’s been a long hard winter in Ivoryton. I think we are all tired shoveling and plowing and we are ready for spring and the first show of our 2013 season. And what better way to open our doors and welcome you back than with a trip down Memory Lane and the great classic doo-wop songs of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

 

Sh-Boom! Take a trip to Springfield and meet the Crooning Crabcakes, as they prepare to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time! Trouble comes in the form of Lois, who arrives to put some polish on the boys. Denny and Wally fall in love, Eugene falls apart, and along comes handsome heartthrob Skip to send the whole situation spinning. The '60s doo-wop songs say it all: "Fools Fall in Love," "Tears on My Pillow," "Runaround Sue," "Earth Angel," "Stay," "Unchained Melody," "Lonely Teardrops," and "The Glory of Love." Winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Best Musical Award, Life Could Be a Dream will leave you laughing, singing, and cheering—let’s hear it for the boys!

 

Pictured: Sheila Coyle and Christopher DeRosa*     Photograph by Anne Hudson

The cast features some exciting young talent – Evan Siegel*, Aaron Catano, Matt Densky* and Rob Rodems as the fabulous boy band - and we are thrilled to welcome back Sheila Coyle* who was such a hit in Ivoryton in last season’s Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. The show is directed by Jacqueline Hubbard, musical director is Jason Wetzel and choreographer is Schuyler Beeman. Set designed by Dan Nischan, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costumes by Kari Crowther.

 

Life Could Be A Dream opens in Ivoryton on March 13th   and runs through March 30th . Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org  (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.

 

Members of the press are welcome at any performance.

Please call ahead for tickets.

*member of Actors Equity

 

Generously sponsored by Essex Savings Bank

 

Jacqueline Hubbard

Executive/Artistic Director

Ivoryton Playhouse

P.O. Box 458

Ivoryton , CT 06442

(860) 767-7318

 

www.ivorytonplayhouse.org

Breakfast:Silver Palate Thick and Rough Oatmeal

When it becomes cold and snowy outside it is time to have Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal for breakfast as opposed to Cheerios. I enjoy a hot bowl of oatmeal, too. Actually I grew up on Quaker Oats, but I if Silver Palate Oatmeal is on Sale! I'll add that to my grocery basket because I find that just as tasty. 

Here is my bowl of oatmeal with strawberries and honey. I sometimes put sugar, milk or blueberries on my oatmeal, depending on what is in season.

I make my oatmeal on the stove. The directions are very simple for the Silver Palate Oatmeal.  Put 3/4 cup milk (I use soy or almond milk, or you can use water) in a small saucepan with a little salt and bring to a boil. Add 1/3 cup Silver Palate Thick and Rough Oatmeal and stir and turn the temperature down to low. Let sit on the stove for 8 to 10 minutes watching and stirring every once in a while. Take off the stove and put the cover on and let stir for 2 minutes then serve in a bowl as desired. 

I am an oatmeal fan whether it is in a cookie or mush in a bowl. It is hearty breakfast. 

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